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91

Coming Soon Magazine

Always in search for innovation and originality, Bullfrog's development teams are often at the foremost of the industry, bringing new concepts with explosive graphics and outstanding game play almost every time. However with Genewars, Bullfrog doesn't introduce a radically different style of game, but rather takes the real-time strategy genre by storm. So what Genewars has, that the like of Command & Conquer and Warcraft II, the most two popular real-time strategy games, don't have?

Not that I'm saying it's a C&C beater, however. This game isn't going to be everybody's cup of tea, simply because it's so frenetically complicated. If you've read thus far, and you're thinking 'I like the sound of that', then rest assured - you'll love it. Those of you who prefer their games a tad more neanderthal had better leave it alone.

Despite the interface oversights, GENE WARS has a lot going for it and might be a subtle, enjoyable game were it not for one huge gaping flaw: a pathetic, skimpy, wholly inadequate manual. What is the difference between the Gene Pod and the Gene Lab? What are the special abilities of hybrid creatures? What structures are available and what is the upgrade path to get them? Exactly which shade of brown represent arid ground? Bullfrog isn't telling. It's too bad, really, because if it weren't for the lack of a manual, gamers might have had a fighting chance to savor the humor and originality of Bullfrog's wacky '50s-style space romp.

I've been accused in the past of being a borderline-bootlicker to Bullfrog; they could do no wrong as far as I was concerned. But that was until Gene Wars. The game seems to have everything Bullfrog's past efforts have provided, including an incredible premise and astounding audio-visual elements. But what made games such as Populous, Syndicate, and Magic Carpet so mind-blowing was that beneath all the beautiful atmosphere lay a finely-tuned, ingenious game. Gene Wars, on the other hand, is just a gorgeous mess.